Oronasal mask



I Oct. 28,1941. w. M. BOOTHBY' EI'AL 2,260,701

. ORONASAL MASK Filed July 28, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l Invenkors;

- W. M.Boo'i:-h.b5. A. H. Bulbulian. W. R; Lovelace.

- B M MW-M ttorn 3 w. M. B OO THBY EI'AL 2,260,701 I ORQNASAL MASK FiledJuly 28, 1939 Oct. 28, 1941.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventors- W. M. Boothbg. A. H. BuLbuLLan. W. R. LovLace B5 gqr 163.

Patented Oct. 28, 1941 ORONASAL MASK Walter M. Boothby, Arthur H.Bulbulian, and William R. Lovelace, Rochester, Minn.

Application July 28,1939, Serial No. 287,087

2 Claims.

Our invention relates to oronasal masks for use in connection with andas a part of means for providing mixtures of gases delivered to @theinterior chamberof the mask, and which {will ermit normal breathing ofsuch mixtures. The izrticular mixtures -of gases contemplated may forexample, 100 per cent oxygen mixed with the first and mostoxygen-enriched portions of ases of exhalation, or oxygen may be mixedwith desiredproportion's of air, from none at all, where 100 per centoxygen is being employed,

to the minimum percentages of oxygen, to be breathed through ouroronasal mask, which is adapted to be held positioned upon the face of awearer in such manner as to be comfortable,

non-irritating and topermit normal breathing.

Our oronasal mask will be employed in the combinations and for thepurposes, as to permitting breathing of 100 per cent oxygen or anypercentage of oxygen mixed with air, set forth in-our copendingapplication, Serial No. 287,086,

filed at the same time as' this application. So this application will belimited to covering the featuresof the oronasal mask per se, whichobviously can be used in the inhalationapparatus combinations of theaforesaid application in the same manner, so far as securing oxygenmixtures in any desired percentages up to 100 per cent, as-

in the nasal mask therein specifically disclosed and claimed with itsassociated'oxygen-regulating means.

This application is a continuation in part of our application, SerialNo. 227,588, filed August 30, 1938,.in which we disclose both a nasalmask and an oronasalmask, the nasal mask as above stated, beingspecifically covered in the aforesaid pending application. The oronasalmask herein presented is adapted to serve the same purposes as the nasalmask in those cases where mouth breathers are involved and it isnecessary to provide means for supplying to the mouth the mixtures ofgases to be breathed.

The conditions to be met are such as are involved in breathing in ararified atmosphere, such for example as in transport and aviation athigh 'altitudes,'and in oxygen therapy. In the former situationsordinarily oxygen is mixed with air being breathed in varyingproportions according to the altitude and the consequent attenuation ofthe atmosphere. In oxygen therapy there are numerous well recognizedpathological conditions which are aided by the addition of oxygen to airbeing breathed andthe consequent enrichment of the gases breathed by apropor tion of ox gen greater than that in air. It is also well knownthat pure oxygen, or 100 per cent added oxygen, may be breathed overextended periods of time and produce valuable remedial effects innumerous pathological conditions, so that a provision of inhalationapparatus which will be economical in the use of Oxy en and which at thesame time permits the administration of 100 per cent oxygen will open upa .whole new field of oxygen therapy of great value for the alleviationof certain pathological condi- I tions, such as migraine headaches,disturbances of the system after too much alcohol, surgical andtraumatic shock, gas gangrene, and many other conditions inimical tocomfort and health.

For use in all of these typesof cases, where individuals are naturalmouth breathers r where for any cause the patients condition is suchthat he may find it necessary to breathe through the mouth, an oronasalmask is required, that is, a mask which is adapted to inclose both thenose and the mouth. It is, therefore, an object of our invention toprovide such a mask which shall be capable of being worn in ,any normalerect, sitting or recumbent position of the wearer and which is held inposition with a gentle pressure by means of an elastic band naturallypositioned to come'acros's the nape of the neck.

It is-a further important object'of our invention to provide such anoronasal mask adapted to be held upon the face of a wearer andinclosingboth the nose and the mouth, to which is supplied any desired mixture ofgases, as of oxygen and air, or where indicated 100 per cent oxygenmixed with exhalation gases, such that an individual can wear theoronasal mask and breathe while wearing it without conscious discomfortor irritation and with-substantially the same degree of ease andnaturalness as he could, without any appliance,'from the open air.

It is a further object of our invention to construct an oronasal maskwhich, in one size, shall I be adapted to fit the face of any normalmale person, and in another size shall be adapted to fit the face of anynormal female person, it beingunderstood that these sizes are for adultsand that smaller sizes may be required for children.

I v distinguished, are largely due'to the tissues and soft parts' overthe bony structure, and that inv general the bony structures of thefaces of adult males, and of adult females in a differing degree, beara' close resemblance, particularly in respect to shape andrelative-arrangement.

We have therefore, in carrying out this-object, made the margins of ouroronasal mask, which are adapted to engage the soft parts of the faceabout the nose and mouth and across the chin, conform to the bonystructure beneath said margins. The result is that, in a single sizeoro-'- nasal mask formen and a. similar single size oronasal mask forwomen, the aforesaid margins are adapted to so fit the face of thewearer in relation to the soft parts slightly pressed over the bonystructure beneath as to be comfortable at all times and not to produceunsatisfactory strains which, when long continued, would causediscomfort.

Pure oxygen comes compressed in storage tanks, and for its delivery tobreathers well known pressure reducing means operating, in conjunctionwith flow valves for indicating the volume being delivered provideindicated volumes of oxy en for the breather, whether it be 100 per centoxygen mixed with exhalation gases, or any desired percentage of oxygenmixed with such gases and with air. For these purposes we havediscovered that if the oxygen is delivered to a reservoir-rebreathingbag to which may be added through the action of breathing the first andmost oxygen-enriched parts of the exhaled gases and air in desiredamounts, advantageous results will be obtained.

For accomplishing the waste of the later part of the exhaled gases,which contain the larger proportions of carbon dioxide, we have employedas a reservoir-rebreathing bag one in which its volumetric capacity as areservoir is less than the volume of a normal exhalation, in conjunctionwith spring-held valve mechanism which will open after thereservoir-rebreathing bag is fully distended by the first parts of theexhalation, permitting waste to atmosphere of the last parts of suchexhalation. It is of added advantage to have the reservoir-rebreathingbag held close to the patients mouth. It is a further 'object of ourinvention, therefore, to provide in conjunction with an oronasalmaskcovering the nose and mouth of the wearer, a central inletoutletpassageway or tube, to which is connected certain regulating valvemechanism and a supported reservoir-rebreathing bag together withintroduction of the conduit leading to the oxygen supply directly intothe reservoir-rebreathing bag, said conduit being extended preferably toa point at or near the, bottom thereof.

The organization of elements by which these several objects are met andthe desired-advantages are obtained, and the detailed parts whichcooperate to produce these advantages are hereinafter described in thespecification and the novel features are particularly pointed out in the1 claims.

In the drawings illustrating applicationof our invention inone of itsforms:

Fi 1 is a front view of a normal face, male, showing the position of theoronasal mask thereing and finger plate removed and with some partsshown indotted lines.

Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal sectional view showing a face inposition within the oronasal transverse sectional views taken on lines8, 9, l0, II, l2 and I3, in Fig. 4. 'These figures show progressivelythe relation of the contacting beveled marginal faces of the mask'to thebody portion.

As shown, our mask comprises a. body portion III which has an extensionll adapted to pass around the bridge of the nose and inclose and gripit. The chamber I2 within the member ID is thus formed with a nosereceiving projection portion l3, clearly shown in Figs. 1 and. 14. Thechamber I2 is open in the front and is provided with a widened orbeveled margin which, as indicated at I 4, Figs. 4, 6, and '7, isnarrowest toward the top of the nose and which gradually widens throughsaid portio l5 and It to a maximum bottom portion II. The edge ll ofthis margin has a conformation shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5 in plan, and inFigs. 2, 6 and '7 in elevation'and also partially shown in Fig. 3.. The

progressive variation of the angle of these beveled faces to the bodyIII of the mask is shown in Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive. It. is thisconformation and this progressive variation of relation which has beenconformed with the bony structurebeneath the' soft parts of the face.When,

' sure strains against the bony structure so that on with parts insection to illustrate the man- Fig. 5-is an outside plan view with thefasten- 75 the mask can be worn for long periods of time withoutdiscomfort or compression aches or disturbances.

l The body of the mask H) has secured thereto a composite platestructure of which one side is clearly shown in Fig.2. This platestructure may be secured to the body ll of the mask by means of rivets20 or other suitable securing means. The plate is provided on each sideof the mask with spring fingers 2| and 22 which are adapted, when themask is worn, to cause the contacting surfaces 14,, II, it and IT to bepressed gently inwardly to insure perfect seating against the sideportions of the face and over the front of the cheek bone.- The' memberI! also provides means for securing to the mask an elastic band 23which, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, has a short end 24 and a long end 25adapted to be passed around the head of the wearer so as to fit into thehollow at the nape of the neck. The securing member 26 on the short endof the tape is provided with a hook 21 with which an eye-piece 28 isadapted to connect. The eyepiece 28 is on a loop 28 of band and 25 whichloop is held by means of a clip 30.. The clip 30 permits adjustment ofthe length of nfmber 25 to adapt itself to different wearers. In thismanner the mask is held directly pressed against the face of the wearerwith a gentle pressure whereby the engaging facs ll, l5,"l6 and I1conforming with the shape of the bony structure beneath the soft partsare held substantially permanently in engagement with the said softparts in a manner which is comfortable and satisfactory when the deviceis worn. 1

A strong reinforcing rib 3| is formed on the inside of the mask body Itbelow an upper chamber '32, Figs. 6 and '1, which receives the wearer'snose when the mask is worn. A U-shaped'rib 33 extends from the rib 31 onthe inside of the mask, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and '7. This ribstructure hastwo functions; first, it provides support for the elasticband 23 when the same is fastened about the head of the wearer so thatthe pressure exerted by the band will have no tendency to collapse toany degree the mask proper. The second function of the rib structure isto aid in'the support of members attached to the outlet tube 35. Thisinlet-outlet tube, as shown in Figs. 6 and '7, extends at a broad angleindicated at 36 away from the normal plane of the mask on the face.Attached to the mask is a connecting and regulator member 31 to which isconnected a reservoirrebreathing bag 38' supplied with oxygen in areservoir-rebreathing-bag and an oxygen-delivannoyance to ourconsciousness of its weight on 'ering tube, all of considerableweig'ht,and this attachment is borne from the mask without any tions require it,additions of other gases).

described manner from a supply tube 39. The 4 curve of the inlet-outlettube 35 inireference to the body of the mask it is such that when themembers 31 and 38 are attached to the inletoutlet tube, as the same isworn in the erect position, the tube will be slightly-bent, as indicatedin Fig. 2, putting pressure on the contacting surfaces ll of the maskagainst the chin of the wearer which acts as a fulcrum with respect tothe securing band 23 whereby the surfaces I! are effectively seated uponthe fronts andsides of the chin.

An important feature of our invention is the provision of the extensionI I on the mask which,

. as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, provides a nosereceiving chamber 40whose side walls I! and A2 are adapted to engage over the bony structureof the sides of the nose and grip the same with a sealing action whilethe lip portions about this chamber are seated against the cheeksadjacent the bony structure of the nose, thus efiecting a natural andcomplete seal at the hollows of the bony structure below and in front ofthe eyes.

As set forth in the statement of invention, the reservoir of thereservoir-rebreathing bag 38 will have a volumetric capacity less 'thanthe volume of a normal exhalation which, taken in connection with valvestructure on connecting and regulating part 31, causes the last parts ofexhalations most heavily charged with carbon dioxide, to go toatmosphere. And to make sure that no part of the oxygen is wasted theoxygen delivering tube 39 is extended within the res ervoir-rebreathingbag 38 toa point near its bottom, as indicated at 40, Fig. 2.

The advantages of our invention have been quite fully pointed out in theforegoing description of its details and cooperating parts. The

fundamental and essential advantage is that a mask is provided coveringthe face and mouth of the wearer which has contacting portions so shapedand developed with reference to the bony structure of the face beneaththe soft parts of the, face, that the mask, when worn, will not onlyseal itself against the soft parts of the face to shut out inlet oregress of air to and from the mask chambers, but will be worn with sucha degree of comfort that free breathing with substantially no morerestriction or effort than in the open air is provided. And further,this is accomplished in respect to a mask which has attached theretovalve mechanism, a collapsible ide.

structure which surrounds the upper part ofthe body of the patient as helies upon a bed, within which it is attempted to supply the patient withair suitably enriched with added oxygen and whereinit 'is attempted toeliminate undesirable accumulations of carbon diox- One seriousdifliculty with oxygen therapy involving the oxygen tent is that thestructure itself is costly, its operation wasteful of oxygen.

and expensive, and for these reasons, it is available usually only inthe larger hospitals and in the larger cities and is not available tothe vast number of sufferers in smaller towns and country districts.

We have discovered that our oronasal mask, in conjunction with suitablemeans for supplying oxygen to. a reservoir-rebreathing bag of suitablevolumetric capacity supported thereby, can effectively be used as asubstitute for an oxygen tent, and. can be available for physicians insmaller communities and in the country where very large numbers ofpatients have to be cared for in their own homes.- Furthermore, ouroronasal mask and its associated parts is admirably adapted for use withnatural mouth breathers in administering per cent oxygen for alleviationof numerous pathological conditions as set fort-T. in the statement ofinvention hereto.

We-claim: I

1. An oronasal mask comprising a body of semi-rigid material forming anopen-sided chamber adapted to receive the nose and mouth of a wearer,the marginal parts of said chamber embodying .outwardly extended sideportions shapedand positioned for contacting the cheeks and a bottomportion shaped and positioned for contacting the chin when worn, astifiening member extending transversely inwardly into the chamber belowthe nose-receiving portion and above the mouth portion of the chamber, atube extending at an angle outwardly and downwardly from the bottom ofthe body and opening into the lower part of said chamber, and arebreathing bag and oxygen supply tube entering said bag which areconnected with and supported by said first-named tube and the mask bodyclose to said body.

2. An oronasal mask comprising a body of semi-rigid material forming anopen-sided chamber adapted to receive the nose and mouth and aidingrecovery of 4- 2,2eo,7 or

of a wearer, the marginal parts of said chamber embodying outwardly'extended side portions shaped and positioned for contacting the faceand chin when worn, a tube extending at an angle outwardly anddownwardly from the center of the bottom of thebody abovethechincontacting portion 0! the body and opening into the lower partofsaid chamber, and a rebreathins bag and oxygen. supply tube enteringsaid bag at its top which are connected with and supported by saidfirst-named tube and the mask body closeto said body, said rebreathingbag having a volumetric capacity less than the 5 volume or a normalexhalation.

WAL'I'ER M. Boomer. ARTHUR H. BULBULIAN. WILLIAM R. LOVELACE;

